Association between obstructive apnea syndrome during sleep and damages to anterior labyrinth: Our experience

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a chronic condition characterized by frequent episodes of collapse of the upper airways during sleep. It can be considered a multisystem disease. Among the districts involved, even the auditory system was seen to be concerned. It was enrolled a population of 20 patients after polysomnographic diagnosis of OSAS (Apnea Hypopnea Index > 10) and a control group of 28 healthy persons (Apnea Hypopnea Index < 5). Each patient has been subjected to Pure Tone Audiometry, Tympanometry, study of Acoustic Reflex, Otoacoustic Emissions and Auditory Brainstem Response. Moreover they were submitted to endoscopy of upper airway with Muller Maneuver and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). The values of ESS was 13.5 in OSAS group and 5.4 in control group. The tone audiometry is worse in all frequencies analyzed in OSAS patients, but within the normal range for both groups analyzed by 250 to 1000 Hertz. Otoacoustic emissions show a reduced reproducibility and a lower signal/ noise ratio in OSAS group (P <0.01)

Sharp interface limit for a phase field model in structural optimization

We formulate a general shape and topology optimization problem in structural optimization by using a phase field approach. This problem is considered in view of well-posedness and we derive optimality conditions. We relate the diffuse interface problem to a perimeter penalized sharp interface shape optimization problem in the sense of $\Gamma$-convergence of the reduced objective functional. Additionally, convergence of the equations of the first variation can be shown. The limit equations can also be derived directly from the problem in the sharp interface setting. Numerical computations demonstrate that the approach can be applied for complex structural optimization problems

Singular kernels, multiscale decomposition of microstructure, and dislocation models

We consider a model for dislocations in crystals introduced by Koslowski, Cuiti\~no and Ortiz, which includes elastic interactions via a singular kernel behaving as the $H^{1/2}$ norm of the slip. We obtain a sharp-interface limit of the model within the framework of $\Gamma$-convergence. From an analytical point of view, our functional is a vector-valued generalization of the one studied by Alberti, Bouchitt\'e and Seppecher to which their rearrangement argument no longer applies. Instead we show that the microstructure must be approximately one-dimensional on most length scales and exploit this property to derive a sharp lower bound

Branching Structures in Elastic Shape Optimization

Fine scale elastic structures are widespread in nature, for instances in plants or bones, whenever stiffness and low weight are required. These patterns frequently refine towards a Dirichlet boundary to ensure an effective load transfer. The paper discusses the optimization of such supporting structures in a specific class of domain patterns in 2D, which composes of periodic and branching period transitions on subdomain facets. These investigations can be considered as a case study to display examples of optimal branching domain patterns. In explicit, a rectangular domain is decomposed into rectangular subdomains, which share facets with neighbouring subdomains or with facets which split on one side into equally sized facets of two different subdomains. On each subdomain one considers an elastic material phase with stiff elasticity coefficients and an approximate void phase with orders of magnitude softer material. For given load on the outer domain boundary, which is distributed on a prescribed fine scale pattern representing the contact area of the shape, the interior elastic phase is optimized with respect to the compliance cost. The elastic stress is supposed to be continuous on the domain and a stress based finite volume discretization is used for the optimization. If in one direction equally sized subdomains with equal adjacent subdomain topology line up, these subdomains are consider as equal copies including the enforced boundary conditions for the stress and form a locally periodic substructure. An alternating descent algorithm is employed for a discrete characteristic function describing the stiff elastic subset on the subdomains and the solution of the elastic state equation. Numerical experiments are shown for compression and shear load on the boundary of a quadratic domain.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

Neurophysiological Profile of Antismoking Campaigns

Over the past few decades, antismoking public service announcements (PSAs) have been used by governments to promote healthy behaviours in citizens, for instance, against drinking before the drive and against smoke. Effectiveness of such PSAs has been suggested especially for young persons. By now, PSAs efficacy is still mainly assessed through traditional methods (questionnaires and metrics) and could be performed only after the PSAs broadcasting, leading to waste of economic resources and time in the case of Ineffective PSAs. One possible countermeasure to such ineffective use of PSAs could be promoted by the evaluation of the cerebral reaction to the PSA of particular segments of population (e.g., old, young, and heavy smokers). In addition, it is crucial to gather such cerebral activity in front of PSAs that have been assessed to be effective against smoke (Effective PSAs), comparing results to the cerebral reactions to PSAs that have been certified to be not effective (Ineffective PSAs). &e eventual differences between the cerebral responses toward the two PSA groups will provide crucial information about the possible outcome of new PSAs before to its broadcasting. &is study focused on adult population, by investigating the cerebral reaction to the vision of different PSA images, which have already been shown to be Effective and Ineffective for the promotion of an antismoking behaviour. Results showed how variables as gender and smoking habits can influence the perception of PSA images, and how different communication styles of the antismoking campaigns could facilitate the comprehension of PSA’s message and then enhance the related impac

Analysis of an Inverse Problem Arising in Photolithography

We consider the inverse problem of determining an optical mask that produces a desired circuit pattern in photolithography. We set the problem as a shape design problem in which the unknown is a two-dimensional domain. The relationship between the target shape and the unknown is modeled through diffractive optics. We develop a variational formulation that is well-posed and propose an approximation that can be shown to have convergence properties. The approximate problem can serve as a foundation to numerical methods.Comment: 28 pages, 1 figur

A Gamma-convergence argument for the blow-up of a non-local semilinear parabolic equation with Neumann boundary conditions

In this paper we study a simple non-local semilinear parabolic equation with Neumann boundary condition. We give local existence result and prove global existence for small initial data. A natural non increasing in time energy is associated to this equation. We prove that the solution blows up at finite time $T$ if and only if its energy is negative at some time before $T$. The proof of this result is based on a Gamma-convergence technique

A study of methyl formate in astrochemical environments

Several complex organic molecules are routinely detected in high abundances towards hot cores and hot corinos. For many of them, their paths of formation in space are uncertain, as gas phase reactions alone seem to be insufficient. In this paper, we investigate a possible solid-phase route of formation for methyl formate (HCOOCH3). We use a chemical model updated with recent results from an experiment where simulated grain surfaces were irradiated with 200 keV protons at 16 K, to simulate the effects of cosmic ray irradiation on grain surfaces. We find that this model may be sufficient to reproduce the observed methyl formate in dark clouds, but not that found in hot cores and corinos.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables Accepted by MNRA

Solid microcrystalline dispersion films as a new strategy to improve the dissolution rate of poorly water soluble drugs: a case study using olanzapine

In this study, we evaluate the dissolution rate enhancement of solid microcrystalline dispersion (SMD) films of olanzapine (OLZ) formulated with four water-soluble polymers namely poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), poloxamer 188 (P188), poloxamer 407 (P407) and Soluplus(®) (SLP). Prepared formulations were characterised to determine particle size, morphology, hydrogen bonding interactions, thermal characteristics as well as in vitro dissolution studies conducted under sink conditions (pH 6.8). Particle size of OLZ in all formulations ranged between 42 and 58μm. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Hot-Stage Microscopy (HSM) studies confirmed OLZ was well maintained in its crystalline state during the formulation process. In vitro dissolution studies showed immediate drug release from all formulation when compared to the drug alone. The greatest increase in in vitro dissolution rate was observed in formulations containing P188 most likely due to its enhanced hydrophilic and surfactant properties compared to the other agents used. Overall, this study successfully generated OLZ loaded SMD films with improved in vitro dissolution rates which is highly likely to result in improved oral bioavailability in vivo

Pro-apoptotic activity of the phytochemical Indicaxanthin on colorectal carcinoma cells (Caco-2) and epigenetic CpG demethylation of the promoter and reactivation of the expression of p16

Phytochemicals play prominent roles in human diet and nutrition as protective redo-active substances in prevention of several disorders and chronic diseases in humans. Today, their function as potent modulators of the mammalian epigenome-regulated gene expression is rapidly emerging. In the present study antiproliferative effects of Indicaxanthin (Ind) from the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica (1), and potential influence on DNA methylation has been investigated on Caco-2 cells, a human cell line of colorectal carcinoma. Ind caused a clear dose- and time-dependent decrease of the cell proliferation (IC(50) 50 M) associated to apoptosis as demonstrated by phosphatidylserine externalization and depolarization of mithocondrial membrane. Ind decreased the Go-G1phase whereas increased S and G2-M phases of the cell cycle. The phytochemical did not altered the intracellular ROS levels but decreased the [Ca2+]i. Investigation on DNA methylation using MESAP-PCR (Methylation-Sensitive Arbitrarily-Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction) (2), showed that 100 M Ind induced a slight global demethylation after a 48 h treatment. Analysis of epigenetic changes in the DNA methylation pattern at CpG promoter of p16 (INK4a), using MSRE (Methylation-Sensitive Restriction Endonucleases Multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction), showed that Ind caused CpG demethylation. Western blotting analysis carried out with p16 monoclonal antibody, confirmed the reactivation of the protein expression. Present data, suggesting that a long-term exposure to indicaxanthin in diet might potentially affect epigenetic machines of the intestinal cells, preventing or repairing initial derangements/disorders, encourage studies on the mechanism involved